| Androgen suppression | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Testosterone suppression; Androgen ablation; Androgen deprivation |
Androgen suppression, also known as testosterone suppression, is a medical treatment to suppress or block the production or action of male sex hormones, typically in order to attempt to treat certain types of cancer that rely upon male hormones for its growth.
This is done by having the testicles removed, by taking female sex hormones, or by taking drugs called antiandrogens.
Androgen suppression is employed in androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and in feminizing hormone therapy in transgender women, among other androgen-dependent indications.
See also
This article incorporates public domain material from Dictionary of Cancer Terms. U.S. National Cancer Institute.